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Betfred League Cup Group B

Saturday 22nd July 2017

Tynecastle Stadium

 

Hearts 3 (Lafferty 22’, 86’(P), Berra 70’)

East Fife 0

 

Hearts XI: Hamilton, Smith, Souttar (Petkov 45’), Berra, Walker (Stockton 77’), Buaben, Lafferty, Cowie (Martin 62’), McGhee, Grzelak, Goncalves

Subs: Noring, Nowak, Brandon, Moore

Booked: McGhee, Stockton

 

East Fife XI: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Docherty, Watson, Slattery, Duggan, Wilson, Millar, Gordon, Reilly (Flanagan 75’), Willis

Subs: Wilkie, Inglis, Mutch, Young

Booked: Gordon

Dismissed: Gordon

 

Referee: Nick Walsh

Attendance: 6265

East Fife travelled to face Hearts on matchday 3 of the Betfred Cup but left empty-handed as Premiership side ran out 3-0 winners at Tynecastle. Manager Darren Young made two changed to side that drew with Dunfermline on Tuesday with Ryan Goodfellow and Kieran Millar stepping in for Nathan Flanagan and the injured Thomas Cordery.

The home side could have been ahead on 6 minutes when Michael Smith beat the offside trap but saw his shot rebound off the inside of the post into the arms of Goodfellow. Hearts were doing all the running in the early stages and passed up another two great opportunities inside the first 15 minutes when first captain Christophe Berra couldn’t find the target after losing his marker at a corner before Kyle Lafferty headed wide from a couple of yards.

East Fife’s first sight of goal occurred on 17 minutes when a break upfield by Mark Docherty saw Chris Duggan cushion the ball down for the onrushing Ben Reilly. Reilly was beaten to the ball by Berra but the defender’s clearance ricocheted off Reilly and flew narrowly wide. Hearts broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Lafferty got on the end of Smith’s cross to head past Goodfellow from close range.

Lafferty almost doubled the lead 10 minutes later but for a timely intervention from Ben Gordon. Hearts continued to press; this time Jamie Walker denied by a smart stop from Goodfellow. East Fife’s best opportunities in the first half came from set pieces with former Fife ‘keeper Jack Hamilton struggling under high balls and being bailed out on more than once occasion by his defence.

East Fife had to weather a storm of a different kind after the break after the heavens opened and puddles started to form on the Tynecastle surface. Summer football anyone???? It was the visitors who adapted best to the conditions; Duggan beating the offside trap a couple of minutes after the restart but no one was able to get on the end of his cut back. A good break by Aaron Dunsmore saw the ball reach Paul Willis unmarked at the back post but was denied by a great save from Hamilton.

Just before the hour mark, Willis was again denied by Hamilton who managed to hold at the second attempt with Duggan waiting to pounce. When the conditions easing, Hearts started to regain control of the match with Walker going narrowly wide with a volley on 65 minutes before terrific defending by Gordon denied Esmael Goncalves. The home side grabbed a second goal on 70 minutes when Berra rose highest to head home from a corner. Walker should have made it three 5 minutes later but dragged his shot wide from a couple of yards.

Kyle Wilson found the side netting for East Fife on 77 minutes before the striker almost set up Kieran Millar with a tap in on 81 minutes but the Hearts defence were able to clear before Dunsmore saw his shot saved by Hamilton. Gordon was sent for an early bath 5 minutes from time, picking up his second booking bringing down Gongalves inside the box; his first coming following an altercation with Cole Stockton in the middle of the park 10 minutes earlier. Lafferty placed the ball on the spot and sent Goodfellow the wrong way for his second of the afternoon.

There were chances at both ends as the game drew to a close; Duggan forcing Hamilton into a decent save with his effort from 40-yards before Goncalves heading narrowly over into stoppage time.

A much better performance from East Fife after the break; more creative, more confident but the hosts ran out deserved winner. Onwards to Tuesday for our final group match of the Betfred Cup when Eglin City visit Bayview.

Following the completion of our Betfred Cup Group B matches on Tuesday, we continue our preparations for our forthcoming Ladbrokes League 1 campaign by welcoming a St. Johnstone XI to Bayview on Saturday 29th July with a 12 pm kick off.

Admission Prices

Adults - £5

Under 16s - Free

Heart of Midlothian FC has given information for our travelling support. If fans are travelling by rail, please leave the train at Haymarket Station and the walk to Tynecastle takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. There are service buses from  Haymarket to Gorgie, with about 6 different numbers of buses for that destination. Also if you travel by car, you will have to take your chances with side street parking as there are no car parks specifically for supporters.

 

Betfred League Cup Group B

Tuesday 18th July 2017

Bayview Stadium

 

East Fife 0

Dunfermline 0

(Dunfermline win 9-8 on penalties)

 

East Fife XI: Cordery (Goodfellow 45’), Dunsmore, Gordon, Watson, Docherty, Flanagan (Mutch 72’), Reilly (Young 88’), Slattery, Willis, Wilson, Duggan

Subs: Inglis

Booked: Flanagan

 

Dunfermline XI: Murdoch, Williamson, Lewis, Morris, Ashcroft, Wedderburn (Lochhead 68’), Higginbottom (Shields 68’), Paton, McManus (Smith 81’), Clark, Cardle

Subs: Gill, Mvoto, Splaine, Duthie

Booked: Ashcroft

Referee: Gavin Ross

Attendance: 1094

 

Dunfermline were the visitors to on matchday 2 of the Betfred Cup for the first game to be played on the new artificial pitch at Bayview. Manager Darren Young made three changes to the side that lost to Peterhead at the weekend with Ross Mutch, Chris Kane and Ryan Goodfellow making way for Kyle Wilson, Ben Reilly and Thomas Cordery who was making his first appearance in an East Fife shirt.

The visitors started in the ascendency; Joe Cardle almost finding himself through 1-1 with Cordery but was denied by a superb tackle by Aaron Dunsmore. The first real action in front of goal occurred in the 17th minute when Dunfermline were awarded an indirect free kick inside the East Fife box after Cordery handled a pass-back from Craig Watson. The ball way laid-off for Kallum Higginbottom who could only hit the wall before the ball was cleared for a corner from which Nicky Clark headed narrowly over.

Dunfermline were continuing to press and should have taken the lead when first Higginbottom was denied by an excellent save by Cordery with his legs before Declan McManus delayed his shot too long allowing the East Fife defence to cover when he had a near open goal to aim for. At the other end, the home side had their first sight of goal when Nathan Flanagan turned his marker and cut inside but could only find the side-netting. The visitors had one final chance before half-time but Cordery was able to turn Higginbottom’s drive behind for a corner.

East Fife were forced to change ‘keepers at the break after Cordery picked up an injury during the first-half and replacement Goodfellow was called into action shortly before the hour mark to keep out a header from Callum Morris. The home side were growing into the game and were unlucky when a great cross into the box by Dunsmore just evaded Wilson in the 6-yard box before Chris Duggan tried his luck from 30-yard after winning the ball in midfield. Dunfermline had another good opportunity 10 minutes from time; the offside flag sparing the blushes of Clark who put the ball over the bar from a couple of yard.

Neither side were able to find a breakthrough so the tie went to penalties. No one was able to find the target during the 90 minutes but there was no such trouble from 12-yards with 17 consecutive penalties finding the back of the net before Ben Gordon saw his spot kick rebound off the inside of the post and rolling to safety to give Dunfermline the bonus point.

A very encouraging performance from East Fife who must now recovery quickly and do it all again against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.